Iskcon Vrindavan LIVE:
His Grace Brahmananda Prabhu Has Left His Body in Vrindavan Dham
On June 7, 2015 in Vrindavan Dham Brahmananda prabhu, one of the very first disciples of Srila Prabhupada, a great legend within ISKCON, left his body at 3:20 p.m. He passed away at his residence in Ananda Krishna Van. In another month he would have been 72 years old.
At around 4 o’clock I learnt from my friend of this happy and sad news. I, along with other devotees, went to take the last darshan of the great devotee. We found him laid down on the floor, covered in white cloth, decorated with maha flower garlands. Beside his head was a picture of him with Srila Prabhupada. The room was full with devotees having very sweet and soft kirtan. There were many senior devotees including Deena Bandhu prabhu, Banna Bhatta prabhu, Bhubaneshvar prabhu and HH Veda Vyasa-priya Maharaja. Throughout the day many many devotees came and went offering their last respects to this most glorious and devoted servant of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Everyone who came was welcomed by his brother Gargamuni prabhu.
Gargamuni prabhu explained that untill three days ago his brother Brahmananda prabhu was doing fine. Suddenly, he developed a lung infection:
‘'The infection developed very quickly; he couldn’t breathe. His health had been very good; he even had had a blood test recently that had shown no problems. His health went downwards in just two days. I believe this was divine intervention. Compared to him my blood test was not good. This is divine intervention in the case of my brother.
‘'In my mind, Srila Prabhupada was saying to Brahmananda, «come now.»
‘'When the lung infection was first discovered, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami arranged for an ambulance to take Brahmananda prabhu to Apollo hospital in Delhi. However, he had difficulty in breathing and could not be taken until this became stabilized.
‘'There was some back and forth with the ambulance and myself. I was reminded that Srila Prabhupada said «no, no hospital, no Delhi. Here, here, Vrindavan.» While sitting in his room, he simply fell over. I watched it. I couldn’t beleive it. He just keeled over and that was it. I knew it right away Prabhupada was saying, «no Delhi, no ambulance, no hospital.» Just as Prabhupada hadn’t wanted hospital; and I know because I pulled him out from the hospital in 1967. I had brought Brahmananda upstairs to Prabhupada’s room in the hospital and next day Brahmananda took him out of the hospital. Prabhupada was repaying that service.’ (Gargamuni starts to cry at the memory). ''Prabhupada was saying to Brahmananda, ‘You won’t go to a hospital because you saved me from the hospital.'' Therefore, Srila Prabhupada’s lila is still going on. It is not finished. And this is Prabhupada’s way of reciprocating with Brahmananda for saving him from the hospital, from the big needles. He is saying, ''My son will not die in Delhi or in a hospital; he will pass here in Vrindavan.'' I am happy about this. I am in bliss. I am not crying from sadness, I am crying from bliss. There’s a difference."
Mother Parvati, who also served Srila Prabhupada with Brahmananda prabhu, and who has been serving Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi for many years, made an interesting observation, ''I came to Prabhupada samadhi after Brahmananda’s passing away and I have never seen Srila Prabhupada look as satisfied as today.''
We can understand that Srila Prabhupada has taken away one of his most beloved disciples to his eternal lila. His Grace Brahmananda prabhu ki jaya!